Help. I have a US Gear "Unified Tow Brake" system and I believe the system "brain" in the tow vehicle has gone belly up.The Unified Tow Brake system has been out of production for a couple of years and there are no (or very few) replacement parts.So. . .I'd like to find a shop that can troubleshoot and repair a small electronics device. I think it could be pretty simple for a small shop to understand and repair this thing.Plus - there are hundreds of them out there and no other resource for getting them working again.Any leads?

bighatnohorse wrote:Help. I have a US Gear "Unified Tow Brake" system and I believe the system "brain" in the tow vehicle has gone belly up.The Unified Tow Brake system has been out of production for a couple of years and there are no (or very few) replacement parts.So. . .I'd like to find a shop that can troubleshoot and repair a small electronics device. I think it could be pretty simple for a small shop to understand and repair this thing.Plus - there are hundreds of them out there and no other resource for getting them working again.Any leads?did you try contacting US Gear? i have the same brake and was able to buy parts from them 3-4 years ago. the fellow told me he could not sell any new units but he could sell parts until his stock ran out. worth a try.what's not working?

Just buy a replacement controller, you'll save yourself a lot of grief in the end: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+brake+controller&i=automotive&crid=1BT9F63X97CE7&sprefix=rv+brake%2Caps%2C310&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_8

Have you taken it apart to see if it has any replaceable components?Some circuits may be potted.I would be inclined to buy a new unit as mentioned above.

There are no new units available anymore - all gone and surplus was sold to another company - and they just sold the last. The Unified Tow Brake is non-compatible with any of those on Amazon.I took it apart - no visible defects. Chips, transistors, diodes, resistors, relay and other stuff.And I purchased a "used" one and it doesn't work either.

Electronics repair shop needed | Good Sam Community

garyemunson
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2020
That kind of work is so labor intensive you'd be better off replacing with new. Without factory support with board level schematics and possibly of proprietary parts, I could see several days of shop tinkering with no guarantee of success.
bighatnohorse
Explorer II
Aug 19, 2020
There are no new units available anymore - all gone and surplus was sold to another company - and they just sold the last.
The Unified Tow Brake is non-compatible with any of those on Amazon.

I took it apart - no visible defects. Chips, transistors, diodes, resistors, relay and other stuff.

And I purchased a "used" one and it doesn't work either.
Flute_Man
Explorer
Aug 19, 2020
Have you taken it apart to see if it has any replaceable components?
Some circuits may be potted.
I would be inclined to buy a new unit as mentioned above.
agesilaus
Explorer III
Aug 19, 2020
Just buy a replacement controller, you'll save yourself a lot of grief in the end: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rv+brake+controller&i=automotive&crid=1BT9F63X97CE7&sprefix=rv+brake%2Caps%2C310&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_2_8
rk911
Explorer
Aug 18, 2020
bighatnohorse wrote:
Help. I have a US Gear "Unified Tow Brake" system and I believe the system "brain" in the tow vehicle has gone belly up.

The Unified Tow Brake system has been out of production for a couple of years and there are no (or very few) replacement parts.

So. . .I'd like to find a shop that can troubleshoot and repair a small electronics device. I think it could be pretty simple for a small shop to understand and repair this thing.
Plus - there are hundreds of them out there and no other resource for getting them working again.

Any leads?

did you try contacting US Gear? i have the same brake and was able to buy parts from them 3-4 years ago. the fellow told me he could not sell any new units but he could sell parts until his stock ran out. worth a try.

what's not working?
2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 18, 2020
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